Jim McDougall

Global maritime security organisation Maritime Asset Security and Training (MAST) Ltd has appointed Jim McDougall as head of training.

Mr McDougall has been a professional trainer for over 30 years, having held positions as instructor, manager and director. He was instrumental in developing the British Armed Forces’ shooting policy and later applied the same system to the Canadian and Omani Armed Forces.

His main focus will be on MAST’s training development and delivery systems, including Ship Security Officer, Company Security Officer, Port Facility Security Officer, Counter Piracy and Close Protection courses.

He will also coordinate the delivery of MAST’s small arms training and shooting coaching programmes at its new firing range in Gozo, to ensure the highest standard of marksmanship and weapon safety for MAST security operators.

Mr McDougall will establish MAST’s firing range in Gozo, which has been developed following changes in Maltese law, enabling EU citizens to shoot a weapon without the need for a firearms’ licence. The range will give the public the opportunity to live fire historic weapons, enhance existing shooting skills or to simply enjoy a unique shooting experience in a safe environment with expert tuition.

A master shooting coach in all small arm disciplines and also in ‘three positional’ Olympic shooting, Mr McDougall was team coach of the British Army Combat shooting team, which successfully won all 14 international matches against nine other nations. He started his career with the Parachute Regiment, before transferring to a specialist British Army training unit (SASC), where he served in all major training establishments worldwide.

For the past 10 years he has provided training development and security consultancy to a number of major oil and gas companies, including BP, Shell, and Occidental.

Over this period, he developed an engineering and technician training development plan and competency mapping for all positions and grades.

Mr McDougall has also advised major corporations on their recruitment procedures and the Oman government on national and expatriate recruitment and nationalisation programmes.